Early stages of the bloody frogfish, Antennarius sanguineus Gill 1863, andthe bandtail frogfish, Antennatus strigatus (Gill 1863) (Pisces : Antennariidae)

Antennarius sanguineus and Antennatus strigatus are benthic residents of co astal waters from the lower Gulf of California to northern Chile and Ecuado r, respectively. Planktonic larvae of both species, collected primarily fl- om the lower Gulf of California, are deep-bodied and compressed with large head, moderately long preanal length, and inflated skin. Antennarius sangui neus undergoes notochord flexion at 2.6-2.9 mm through 2.9-3.2 mm and settl es from the plankton at about 8.0-8.5 mm; Antennatus strigatus completes fl exion before 2.3 mm and settles at an unknown size <11 mm. Shortly before s ettlement small dermal spinules enclosed in small fleshy papillae begin to form in Antennarius sanguineus; larger, bare spinules are already present i n the smallest available specimen (2.3 mm) of Antennatus strigatus. Caudal and dorsal fin rays are first to begin developing during the preflexion sta ge in Antennarius sanguineus, followed by anal, pectoral, and pelvic fin ra ys during the flexion stage. Neural and haemal arches and vertebral centra begin to ossify during the preflexion stage; addition of elements apparentl y is anterior to posterior. Ossification of the skull is already well under way in the smallest cleared and stained specimen of A, sanguineus (2.9 mm, preflexion stage). Larval A. sanguineus are pigmented primarily on the mid- and hindbrain, on the opercle during the latter part of development, internally on the trunk, dorsally and laterally on the gut, and internally on the tail. Larval Ante nnatus strigatus are pigmented primarily on the lower jaw, laterally and ve ntrally on the cranium, on the opercular area, dorsally and laterally on th e,out, and internally around the vertebral column of the trunk and much of the tail. Larval Antennatus avalonis, A. sanguineus, and Antennatus strigatus can be distinguished by modal fin-ray counts and by pigment patterns. Diagnostic p igment includes (1) the internal dorsal melanophore series extending poster iorly from the nape, and in late larvae the external melanophores on the he ad and gut in Antennarius avalonis; (2) the mid-tail bar of melanophores in A. sanguineus; and (3) the jaw pigment and internal melanophores above and below the vertebral column in Antennatus strigatus. Antennarius avalonis h as a specialized postflexion larval stage (the scutatus) that the others la ck.